Friday, 12 February 2010

What is weird today is conventional tomorrow

During my life, I have been called both odd and weird many times, on several different occasions. According to the triad of impairments, people with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome are supposed to not have an imagination, according to the triad of impairments. I would argue it is people who call those with Autism and AS weird who don't have an imagination, as they are demonstrating a fear and ignorance of the unknown or different. It is they who are shutting their minds off, not those with Autism/AS.

What or who was weird or odd in opinions or lifestyle choices in February 1990, or February 1970 or February 1950 or February 1910 is conventional today, and similarly, what or who is odd or weird today could turn out to be conventional by February 2030....

It was once believed that the Earth was flat, that the Sun went around the Earth (The Roman Candle Church imprisoned Galileo for saying that). Before Newton discovered gravity people just thought heavy objects fell heavier than others. Homosexuality was a criminal offence in the UK until 1967 and for some years afterwards was viewed as a mental illness. It is now accepted.

In the 1950's and early 1960's free-market economics were viewed as eccentric and extreme. However, they became government policy in the 1980's. It was once widely believed that Autism was caused by ones upbringing. Apartheid looked as it if was here to stay forever in 1970 in South Africa. There's little chance of it returning today. In 1950 there was segregation in the deep south of the USA. No-one would seriously try to bring it back now.

In 1956 Rock n Roll was seen as dangerous and revolutionary... yet within a few years as mainstream and later even old-fashioned. In January 1977 Mick Jones out of the Clash said "We want no Elvis, Beatles or Rolling Stones in 1977". Thirty years ago, the idea of civil partnerships would have caused outrage amongst most people, but now they are accepted.